Improvement in boring-machines



Inventor:

CHARLES L'PIERCE.

Patented May 21,1872.

Witnessez CHARLES EDWINy PIERCE, OF WESTMIN STER, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BORING-MACHINES.

Specihcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,902, dated May 21, 1872.

i SPECIFICATION.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that. I, CHARLES EDWIN PIERCE, of Westminster, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Boring-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, iu Which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine having my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2, a partial sectional view from the same side taken longitudinally through the machine ,and Fig. 3, a cross-section of the same,a portion of the machinery being' omitted in the rear of the auger.

My invention-relates to a new and improved machine for boring holes in' fence-posts and other analogouspurposes, it being strong, durable, and effective, and capable of being built at small cost ;and it consists, rst, in combining with the auger that bores the holes a traveling-frame for carrying, holding, and adjusting the post at the required points for the boring ofthe holes; second, in combining with the travelingframe that carries the post a peculiar device for clamping or securing the post thereto while being subjected to the action of the au ger third, in the use of certain new and improved devices for arresting the advance of the traveling-frame at the points required for each post-hole, and for releasing the same when the hole is bored; fourth, in the use of certain new and improved devices for detaching the auger from the post when the hole is bored, and at the same time, and by the same act, releasing the traveling-frame, so that it may be freshly adjusted for boring a new hole; fth, in so combining the device that detaches the auger from the hole and releases the traveling-frame with a device for moving the latter back and forth, that the same operator may conveniently attend to both without changing his position and operate both simultaneously; sixth, in combining with the travcling-frame that supports the post or beam being bored an adjustable supporting crossbeam in such manner that the latter may b e moved back or forth as occasion may require in order to avoid being injured by the auger as it passes through the under side of the post in the act of boring the hole; seventh, it' further consists in an improved adjustable belt carrier and tightener, by means of which the tightening, shipping, land unshipping of the belt is much facilitated.

To enable others skilled in the art to make, construct, and use my improved machine, I will vnow proceed to describe it in detail.

The machine may be built of any suitable material, such as wood or iron; but I prefer to make it 'of Wood, with the exception of the operative parts of the auger. The bed-frame ,proper of my machine, in order to have the requisite stability and firmness for the support and operation of the machinery, I propose to build somewhat cruciform in shape; but I do not intend to conne myself to any peculiar form so long as it is adapted to the support of the machinery and parts which constitute my invention, and is so constructed as to enable them to operate in the manner substantially as hereinafter described. The bed-frame, as illustrated in the drawing, consists of two parallel beams, A A, connected together at their ends, and at a suitable distance apart, by means of cross-pieces c, and afterward mounted upon and secured to two sleepers, xb, arranged crosswise on their under side and near their ends. To these beams A A', near their middle and at right angles thereto, are secured two other beams, B, they being halved into each other. These beams are also securely connected together at their ends by cross-pieces c. To the outer` side ofthe beam A is secured a guide-piece, C, for one side of a carriage, D, that supports the post to be bored. The upper edge of this guide-piece C is provided with a lip, d, which is made to project over the upper side of the adjoining rail g of the carriage D, the other rail g of this carriage being guided by means of a standard, G, secured to the outer side of the beam A, as also by the innerside of thecross-piece c secured to the cross-beams B adjoining the standardGr. This standard is so formed as that a portion is made to project over the upper side of the adjoining rail g of the carriage D, the same being true also of the standard E, thus forming, with the lip d of the guide-piece C, a guide-way, within which the carriage may slide freely back and forth at the will of 'the operator. The carriage D consists of two beams, g and g', iirmly counected together near their ends by crosspieces f, and at such distance apart as to fit snugly between the guides C, E, and G, but so as to move freely back and forth at the will of the operator by means shortly to be described. In the side of the rail g next the standards E and G are cut or otherwise formed a series of holes or ratchet-teeth, e, at such intervals apart as will correspond to the desired distance intended to be placed between the holes in the post. Into these holes the end of a springpawl, t', is made to engage so as to arrest the advance of the carriage at the proper point or stage for the boring of `a hole. In this respect simple holes or depressions on the side of the rail would answer the purpose; but I prefer to make them in the form of ratchet-teeth, as such, after the holes are all bored, will allow the carriage to be run freely back to discharge the bored post and take on a new one without let or hindrance from the pawl, the auger being simply raised high enough for that purpose to clear the post. On the rear end of the carriage, immediately over the crosspiece f, is erected a frame, J on the cross-rod k of which is suspended a heavyv clamp-block, K. This clamp turns on` the cross-rod as on a pivot, and is used to keep the end of the post steady while being bored, for which purpose it is raised to insert the post, the end being made to abut against a head-block, L, secured to the cross-piece. This done, the block K is then turned down upon the post, a-nd, being then in a vertical plane between the post and itsown support, resists all vertical movement in the end of the post. For the purpose of facilitating the adjustment of the clamp-block K a lever, M, is secured to its rear side, as seen in Figs. l 2, to the end of which is attached a weight, l, to prevent lateral thrust of the cla-mp. In order, however, to prevent it from carrying the clamp beyond a vertical plane, a bar or rod, m, is attached to the carriage in such manner as to arrest the descent of the lever M at the proper point, and sustains it in that position until the boring of t-he post is completed. At or about the center of the carriage lis arranged an adjustable cross-piece, n, Fig. 3, for the support of the posts being bored, a slot being cut in each of the rails, into which a tenon on each end of the cross-piece slides, the slot being made much longer than the width of the tenon. By this arrangement the cross-piece can be moved back and forth as occasion requires in order to avoid the auger as it passes through the under side of the post being bored.

Thus constructed the carriage is inserted between the guide-ways G, E, and G of the lower frame, arranged for its reception and.

before described. On each end of the rail g is erectedand firmly secured a standard, I. To each of these standards is attached the end of a rope or cord, o, it previously being made to make at least one turn around apulley, H, and from which, through the cord o,

motion is imparted to the carriage either forward or backward, as may be desired by the operator, the cord or rope being suitably secured at or near its middle to the periphery of the pulley in order to prevent slipping; or the cord may be made in two pieces, each piece having one end separately attached to the pulley and the other to one of the standards I; or the carriage may be moved back and forth by rack-bar and pinion, or by any other suitable and known device. In order to drive the pulley, and which for this purpose has its shaft p mounted in suitable bearings in the standard E, a crank-handle, N, is mounted on the outer end of its shaft p. Upon crosspieces c', secured to the beams B ofthe lower frame,areerectedtwostandards,OandP,which `are firmly connected together by cross-beams Q and R, they being further strengthened by braces S, framed into the lower supporting cross-piece b. On the cross-pieces Q and Rf and in suitable bearings s s', is mounted the auger-shaft T. Upon this shaft is keyed a pulley, U, through which motion is imparted to the auger, a ily-wheel, V, being also keyed thereto. The upper end of the shaft T is loosely suspended from the end ofa lever, W, which has its pivoted point l in an upright or standard, X, erected on the upper cross-piece Q of the standards O and l?, to effect which the upper end of the shaft T is provided with a screwthread and made to pass through an opening formed in a swinging collar or bracket, u, pivoted to the end of the lever W, and is then securely connected thereto by means of a nut, 2. The other end of the lever W is projected through a slot, 3, cut or otherwise formed in the standard 0, so as to be within convenient reach of the operator, while he is at the same time in position to move the carriage back and forth. To the under side of this lever is secured another lever, 4, in such manner that when the former is depressed by the operator it will be made to act on the upper end of another lever, 5, working in the slot 3, and having its pivoted point arranged or mounted in the slotted sides of the standard O. The lower end of this lever 5 carries a pawl, i, which is intended to engage with the ratchet teeth or f holes e formed iu the side rail ot the carriage D, a spring, 6, secured tothe bea-m B, being so arranged as to press against t-he outer end of the pawl t' or lower end of lever 5, and thereby keep it engaged with the teeth of the ratchet until disengaged by the operator. The pawl i is made to work in a slot cut in the cross-piece O, Fig. 3, the sides of-which serve ,to retain it in position against the lateral thrust of the carriage should it be attempted to be moved without lirst detaching it from the teeth, and thereby prevents lateral strain on the auger by attempting to move the post before raising the auger, as the two acts should be simultaneously performed, or nearly so, by the same operator, -by depressing the outer end of the lever W and then turning the crank ofl the pul ley H. To relieve the pawl from strain in deend of the paWl on the outside of the lever,

and a shoulder formed on the pawl on the in side of the lever, for the latter against which to press under the action ofthe spring 6 when it is desired to make the pawl engage with the Iratchet-teeth vto stop the further advance of,

the carriage.- By being so made it gives vertical play to the inner end of the pawl, there by saving it from strain; or the same effect can be produced by simply pivoting the outer end of the pawl to the lower end of lever 5.

` To the. rear end of the frame is pivoted a frame, Y, carrying one ortWo 'friction-rolls or belt-carriers, 7. To the upper cross-beam 8 of this frame 1s secured a pin, 9, a corresponding pin, 10, being secured to the upper cross-piece Q ofthe auger-frame. These pins are intended to engage with holes made in the ends of a connecting-beam or stay-rod, 12,Which serves to hold the frame Y in any required position or angle, the connecting stay-rod l2 for `that purpose being provided with a series of holes at either or both ends, by means of which the frame can be adjusted to a vertical orinclined position, in order to slacken or tighten the belt, as may be required.

Thus constructed the operation is as follows: The operator, through the crank and pulley H, moves the carriage outward until the pawl t engages with the tooth or hole e that corrresponds With the position of the first post-hole, or until the clamp-block Kis nearly in contact with the lower end of the auger T. He then raises the auger and causes a post to be placed upon the carriage D, With its end abutting against the head-block L, the clamp K for this purpose being turned aside either by pushing the end of the post against it or by raising the lever M. The post being properly placedlthe auger may be lowered by releasing the lever W, when it Will descend by virtue of its own gravity. The clamp-block K is then adjusted over the end of the post and motion imparted tothe auger.

\ the operator seizes the lever W, depressing it As soon as the hole is bored until the auger is entirely free from the hole of the post and the pawl disengaged from the ratchet-tooth. This done he commences to advance the carriage, and at the sanne time al lows the auger to descend until its point is nearly in contact WithV the post, at which point he arrests its further descent until the carriage is advanced far enough for the boring ofthe second hole, a point Which is determined by the pawl again engaging with the second tooth, thereby arresting the further advance of the carriage, the descent of the auger before referred to having for this purpose been sufficientto release the lever 5 that carries the pawl t' from the action of the lever 4, Which had previously disengaged it. The auger is again put in motion, the hole bored, and then released as before, the same operation being repeated for each hole to be bored until the Whole is completed, on which the motion of the' carriage is reversed, the post removed, and a newT one put in its place to undergo the same operation, as before. The auger is made removable from the pulley U and fly-Wheel V, so that a new one when required, or a larger or smaller one, can be substituted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by `Letters Patent,is

1. The combinationof a carriage, D, and clamp K, operating as described, With a sliding auger, T, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a clamp, K, operating as described, with the carriage D, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the paivl t', spring 6, and levers W, 4, and 5, arranged substantially as described, 'with a carriage, D, provided with ratchet teeth or holes c, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a sliding auger, T,

suspending collar w, levers W, 4, and 5, and

pawl i, with an adjustable carriage, D, and device that lnoves it back and forth, the whole operating in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

.a C. E. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

Russ J oNEs, GEO. L. MERING. 

